Across the world, nurses are playing a pivotal role in detecting, managing and preventing the spread of Novel coronavirus.
Last week, the International Council of Nurses praised nurses working in Novel coronavirus impacted areas and stated nurses “must be provided with the personal protective equipment to safely care for those with the virus and ensure that the virus is not spread further.”
Nurses are at the frontline of Australia’s response to the outbreak, individually assessing and providing expert health advice to passengers returning from flights in mainland China.
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) acknowledges the bravery of nurses, both in Australia and internationally, who are ensuring patients receive the highest standards of health care and advice during this difficult time. We also express solidarity for our Chinese nursing colleagues who are working to control and treat the outbreak in China.
As nurses we adhere and promote the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards on Infection and Prevention and Control Systems to protect ourselves and others. These evidence-based standards are essential in preventing the transmission of infectious agents between humans and helping contain outbreaks and reduce further infection. The standards provide important information on a number of key topics including:
- standard and transmission-based precautions,
- hand hygiene
- aseptic technique
- invasive medical devices
- workforce immunisation.
We also recommend nurses stay up-to-date on the Australian Government Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Resources for Health Professionals.
